Principal Engineer Software (Network Security Data Path)

Our Mission

At Palo Alto Networks® everything starts and ends with our mission:

Being the cybersecurity partner of choice, protecting our digital way of life.
Our vision is a world where each day is safer and more secure than the one before. We are a company built on the foundation of challenging and disrupting the way things are done, and we’re looking for innovators who are as committed to shaping the future of cybersecurity as we are.

Who We Are

We take our mission of protecting the digital way of life seriously. We are relentless in protecting our customers and we believe that the unique ideas of every member of our team contributes to our collective success. Our values were crowdsourced by employees and are brought to life through each of us everyday - from disruptive innovation and collaboration, to execution. From showing up for each other with integrity to creating an environment where we all feel included.

As a member of our team, you will be shaping the future of cybersecurity. We work fast, value ongoing learning, and we respect each employee as a unique individual. Knowing we all have different needs, our development and personal wellbeing programs are designed to give you choice in how you are supported. This includes our FLEXBenefits wellbeing spending account with over 1,000 eligible items selected by employees, our mental and financial health resources, and our personalized learning opportunities - just to name a few!

At Palo Alto Networks, we believe in the power of collaboration and value in-person interactions. This is why our employees generally work full time from our office with flexibility offered where needed. This setup fosters casual conversations, problem-solving, and trusted relationships. Our goal is to create an environment where we all win with precision.

Your Career

As part of the Network Security dataplane team, you are responsible for developing and innovating solutions for Palo Alto Networks next-generation Firewalls and Prisma Access Cloud. Specifically in the areas of network security, high throughput networking, next generation cluster and data plane architecture.

You will also be responsible for innovation, developing proof of concept and productizing 'new' ideas by implementing them and collaborating with team members.

This role is located at our dynamic Santa Clara California headquarters campus, and in office 3 days a week.

Your Impact

• Set the example for high levels of accountability

• Execute and deliver impact both individually and through the team

• Tool Management and Optimization

  • Plan, deploy, and manage GitLab, Vault, and Artifactory across different environments

  • Ensure seamless integration and optimal performance of these tools in FedRamp and China operational contexts

• CI/CD Pipeline Development

  • Design, develop, and maintain comprehensive CI/CD templates for use across various engineering teams

  • Provide support and best practices for the adoption and customization of CI/CD templates

• Cross-functional Collaboration

  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including security, compliance, and development, to ensure alignment and integration of engineering productivity tools

  • Work closely with stakeholders to gather requirements, provide technical expertise, and deliver scalable solutions

Your Experience 

We are looking for someone who cares deeply about the technical development of other engineers on the team and is able to effectively balance the needs and priorities of the business, our users, and the growth of our engineers

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field or equivalent military experience

• Experience with at least one of the cloud platforms (GCP, AWS and Azure)

• Experience writing Go, Python, or other language at production scale

• Knowledge of infrastructure as code (IaC) and config mgmt tools like Terraform and ansible

• Understanding of Unix/Linux, SSH, and networking fundamentals

• 10+ years of experience in software engineering, DevOps, or related fields

• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to troubleshoot complex issues

• Strong communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively across teams

• Knowledge of containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes)

• Familiarity with monitoring and logging tools (Prometheus, Grafana)

• Hands-on experience with GitLab, Vault, and Artifactory in complex environments

• Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous experience in a cybersecurity or high-tech environment

• Experience with AI tools and infrastructure for developer productivity

• Bonus: Experience with ML, GenAI and Agentic AI

The Team

Our engineering team is at the core of our products – connected directly to the mission of preventing cyberattacks. We are constantly innovating – challenging the way we, and the industry, think about cybersecurity. Our engineers don’t shy away from building products to solve problems no one has pursued before. We define the industry, instead of waiting for directions. We need individuals who feel comfortable in ambiguity, excited by the prospect of a challenge, and empowered by the unknown risks facing our everyday lives that are only enabled by a secure digital environment.t]

Compensation Disclosure

The compensation offered for this position will depend on qualifications, experience, and work location. For candidates who receive an offer at the posted level, the starting base salary (for non-sales roles) or base salary + commission target (for sales/commissioned roles) is expected to be between::   $147,000/YR - $215,000/YR.. The offered compensation may also include restricted stock units and a bonus. A description of our employee benefits may be found here.

Our Commitment

We’re problem solvers that take risks and challenge cybersecurity’s status quo. It’s simple: we can’t accomplish our mission without diverse teams innovating, together.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for all qualified individuals with a disability. If you require assistance or accommodation due to a disability or special need, please contact us at  [email protected].

Palo Alto Networks is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity in our workplace, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or other legally protected characteristics.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Is role eligible for Immigration Sponsorship?: Yes